Nephyr Jacobsen, founder of The Naga Center in Portland, Oregon, might not think of herself as an herbalist, but her passion for research as a life-long student of Traditional Thai Medicine qualifies her to teach us more than we have ever before known about Thai herbs.

She understands the magic in Thai plant medicine and has poured her knowledge and her love into the pages of her new book Thai Herbal Medicine, a collaboration with Pierce Salguero.

If you've stopped by this blog, you already know that I love this book. Nephyr and Pierce are not only collaborators, they are incredibly humble (and cute). Each immediately points to the other to give credit for this rich new edition.

Recently, Nephyr and I had a long chat via Skype from her home in Chiang Rai, Thailand, where she has spent two years studying Traditional Thai Medicine in, well, the traditional way, as an apprentice to a devoted teacher.

We talked about her use of Thai herbs in massage, her new on-line course Thai Medical Theory for Bodyworkers, and her next book project. This woman, more than any other person working in the English language at the present moment, is in a position to change your understanding of Thai bodywork and your place in Traditional Thai Medicine. The field is about to blow open. Finally.

There is something about plant medicine that takes me out of the business of my life and grounds me in the earthy solidity of roots and bark and leaves, bits of the gardens and forests that have been gathered together for the purpose of helping, of easing suffering, and of healing the hurts.

from Nephyr's preface to Thai Herbal Medicine

Here's a taste of my conversation with Nephyr (and a recipe!)

In 2005 Nephyr founded The Naga Center, a school and clinic of Traditional Thai Massage and Thai Medicine. It is one of the few places where you can study Thai herbal formulas in the United States. In Nephyr's Herbology Workshop she teaches you how to make steamed herbal compresses as well as balms and linaments to incorporate into Thai bodywork.

"I love making Thai herbal formulas. If I have to do bodywork without them I feel almost handicapped."

In Thai Herbal Medicine, Nephyr explains the therapeutic benefits of topical herbal formulations by leading us through the Thai Four Taste system of herb classification and Thai anatomy with its five body layers. By drawing clear connections between Thai anatomy, the Taste system and herbs, Nephyr answers our "why" questions about those steamy herb packs we have loved, but not fully understood (yay!).

It's clear, concise and incredibly useful. Here is a sample.

Traditional Warming Compress

This is a standard formula that is beneficial for most people. It is extremely therapeutic for the tissue layer of the body, relaxing sore and stiff muscles and increasing circulation. Variations of this formal are found in most pre-made compresses that can be bought from Thailand.

From her immersion in Thai medicine and her commitment to sharing what she has learned, Nephyr has created a 10-week, on-line "very learning intensive" course and a forthcoming book, a manual of Traditional Thai Medicinal theory for bodyworkers. (She hints that she has an interested publisher, and we can hope to have this new book on our shelves within a year. Great!)

"I lucked onto an amazing teacher who reads archaic Thai, Pali, Sanskrit, is fluent in all these texts, can translate, and is willing to talk to me. It is a relationship that comes with an obligation."

"For years I've been following my teacher around in multiple countries. I've watched him teach the same thing over and over again, and I sit there with my computer typing really fast!"

Her course and book are Thai, Thai and only Thai unless an aspect from another medical system, such as Chinese or Indian, has been a component of Thai theory for a very long time. Because we cannot all spend a lifetime studying and apprenticed to our teachers in the traditional manner, Nephyr recognizes that as non-Thai practitioners of Thai bodywork,

"We insert what we already know from other systems into the void of our questions arising from practice."

No kidding. Right? Finally someone is filling that void. This does not mean you have to align your practice with the traditional Thai perspective, but it does offer you a stronger foundation on which to build and to understand your clinical experiences, the observed patterns that emerge from your work with your clients.

"If I could do one thing for Thai bodywork, I would get people to realize the therapeutic potential of it."

I would say that she is well on her way to doing just that through her diligence and generosity. Keep an eye on her. You will surely benefit.

Nephyr's next on-line course begins on July 14 with a discount for early registration by June 20. Plenty of time left to sign up for this amazing course!

JESUS

2/23/2015 11:20:20 pm

Could you tell me when Nephyir's next corse start? Thank you!

Pam

2/24/2015 12:52:57 am

Nephyr's course schedule can be found on her website in the link in the post. Enjoy it!

Lisa Wojciechowski

11/17/2017 02:02:57 pm

Hello ! My massage instructor Devon suggested I reach out to Nephyr to find out good places around Chang Mai or Bangkok Thailand to study Thai Massage:) I have been in Massage Therapy school for a few months & will be traveling to Thailand soon. Id really appreicate hearing back from you. Thank you so much:)